The repaving programme was started some three weeks ago. It is being handled by three different contractors, one to pull up the road surface, another to spread cement over it and a third to repave it.

But the three stages of works are moving at a very different pace: while it is relatively easy to dig up the road, and also to pour in the cement, the work to repave it takes much longer.

This has led to far too many streets being dug up, one consequence being the appearance of many holes in the streets. Some have a sort of covering, which is many times far too flimsy to be called a cover, while others, as the photo shows, have been left partially uncovered.

Mediaeval Mdina is dimly lit at night and many of those who visit it are unfamiliar with the place, especially tourists, so these uncovered holes could prove dangerous to life and limb.

The residents, and the local council, do their best to remove all hazards but their efforts are not always successful.

Sources told The Malta Independent on Sunday that the coming weeks should see more repaving being done as long as the contractor gets more people in to do the job.